What a gem this small hostal is. Located in a lovely colonial building (unfortunately surrounded by office blocks but that is the way of the world now) it is quiet and comfortable and Agustin and Gloria are a delightful couple. There is nothing that is too much trouble for them from meeting you with an umbrella to arranging taxis and finding out bus times. The rooms are spacious, the beds comfortable and there is a heater provided if required. Luggage is stored free of charge and there is also free internet.
The attached restaurant serves very acceptable and reasonably priced meals which is very convenient, although you are in walking distance of a variety of eating places. The included breakfast of fruit, unlimited toast and eggs we found most sufficient.
With the congenial atmosphere, a log fire (which could have been lit earlier in the evening) and good food there really is nowhere comparable in Quito at this price. Wholly recommended.

We stayed at Hostal Santa Barbara 3 times over our last 2 weeks traveling in Ecuador. (almost all travel in Ecuador seems to entail an overnight in Quito.)

Santa Barbara is a find. It is spotlessly clean, with parquet style wooden floors, heaters in the rooms (important for cold Quito nights), hot showers, interesting art on the walls, and everything you could want in a small hotel.

Gloria, on the front desk during the day, is a gem. She is helpful, upbeat, knowledgeable, and charming. We stayed at another hotel for our first night, and upon return from the Galapagos, but checked out Hostal Santa Barbara in person on a friend's recommendation (Santa Barbara was full for our first night). We immediately booked for our other 3 overnights in Quito. When we arrived 2 weeks later, Gloria warmly greeted us by name. What a welcome! While the man on the desk at night didn't speak much English, he tried hard to understand any requests, and with my limited Spanish and his limited English, we got on fine.

We ate 2 meals in the restaurant, and had no complaints, but nothing to rave about. However, the convenience of a restaurant when you are tired, and have an early next day, was greatly appreciated.

While the first hotel we stayed at gets great reviews from guidebooks, I sure wouldn't rave. I do rave about Hostal Santa Barbara.

We stayed at this hotel for 4 nights in all on our recent trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos. It is a small hotel in a colonial type mansion. It has rooms in the main house and some cabin type rooms on the grounds. The facility has a security gate but the neighborhood is not bad. We walked to nearby restaurants. The rooms were clean and comfortable. Good showers, hot water, and a restaurant. Free internet - 15 minutes- if there are others waiting. The staff , especially Gloria, was very helpful to us on our trip. The only negative was the laundry service as they charge per item, not per kilo, and they do not do laundry on Sunday. We would gladly return to this hotel if ever needed in the future. We booked the hotel through Ecuafun Tours and would recommend them as well.

A beautiful colonial building in walking distance of the Mariscal area for bars and restaurants at night. We stayed here twice during our stay in Ecuador, first in a small but comfortable twin downstairs room and then a second time in a huge, impressive and clean triple room on the first floor. The staff were ALL very helpful both during and before our stay.

Quito was one of our favourite Latin American cities, it felt very real - just as you imagine a South American city to be. The old town has some beautiful buildings and there were some lovely bars and restaurants in the Mariscal area. We can definitely recomend the Mexican restaurant - Red Hot Chilli Pepper too.

An absolute MUST for anyone spending time in Quito is a ride on the Teleferico. A cable car up one of the mountains surrounding Quito. The views are breathtaking (and so is the altitude!).